Local detailing - is there any good place in MD? I know 2 that **** now, ugh.

[DMan]

So, I used to do my own cars, but with what some might say are too many cars, a biz to run, a family, and turning my own wrenches on my cars & bikes ... something's got to give, and I chose to 'outsource' the detailing. I'd like to get a nice detail like twice a yr on particular cars; like the viper, shellby gt500, BMW. I'm talking super wash, paint polish, seal, etc.

I tried a place called Atomic, had them do my Gen3, which was in great shape, but I was selling it & thought I'd try them for freshening up the car for showing it. The car had more swirls in it than ... I don't know, something else with a lot of swirls. It was lousy. I wasn't happy, but new owner was fine, said he'd be getting it detailed any way, yada yada.

So, I tried a place called OnTheSpot, had them come out to do my 335 Vert; they estimated taking 3 hrs to do the car (supposed to be a full showroom job, wash, clay bar, paint polish, $175 worth, etc), my son said they showed up over an hour late and were there for 1:15, the car had bug guts still on it I could pick off with my fingernail, wax still on it that was not buffed off - and I mean a lot, like the whole rear bumper, front sides, it was nuts, the wheels have water marks on them, I mean I needed to finish the buffing & then re-wash the car & dry it right. As for polishing or even clay bar ... no way they did it. Worthless job.

So, Atomic Detailing and OnTheSpot get major thumbs-down from me, recommend staying clear of them.

I'm really frustrated. I used to use a place in Rockville called Details, Details, Details and got great results with them, but they went out of business. Looking for recommendations ... if any exist.

Only other option is to try to get my son up to speed on detailing, but of all things I'd really like to off-load this chore.

Dave.

 

[bluesrt]

your not going to find a good detail shop on the street- they r mostly in and out quickie mart places that just move around dirt and smudge it in your paint---good luck

 

[Slithr]

I'd call a couple of local 'high end' exotic car dealers (Ferarri, Lambo, Aston, etc.) and ask who they are using for detailing. If more than one dealer mentions the same detailer, chances are you've found a good one. You might also want to ask a few clear bra installers ... sometimes they'll know a good detailer.

 

[bluesrt]

there u go- good idea

 

[KNG SNKE]

Call Brian Brice from Finer Finish detailing. You can google the info. He is the one who did my car and Alpine's car. He does great work and he can come to you.

 

[ViperJohn]

I thought Details had gone out of business too, but I beleive they just moved onto Gude Drive. Let me see if I can sneak out of the office tomorrow to try to locate them.

 

[ViperJohn]

Did a quick search and determined they were in fact moving, but never reopened. Funny thing is I remember seeing a sign off of Gude Dr at the new location. Perhaps something fell through with the build out/lease.

KingSnake is a pretty picky guy, so I am sure the guy he used did a great job. Also, Mark (laserGTS?) knows someone that may be more local for us.

 

[KNG SNKE]

I am extremely picky. If I sign off on someones work or product it has to be top notch. I am not shy to tell someone how I really feel if their product or work is crap. On that note if you ask anyone who has purchased diffuser blades from me they will tell you that I have followed up with every purchase to ensure customer satisfation. That is how good business is conducted.

Brian has posted on here numerous times under the alias Brian Brice. He Alpine's cousin and that is why I gave him the chance. He did superb work on my car. Also as stated he will come to you.

http://www.finerfinishdetailing.com/

The videos speak for themselves.

Before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9OPTDJ0fgM&feature=related

After
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZJziJHEaT8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyzsbANoS20&feature=related

 

[DMan]

Thanks guys, I have an email out to him.

 

[zoomie]

I know an excellent detailer. Wax to the Max, at 11416 Reisterstown Rd, Owings Mills, Md 410-902-1973.

Detailing Specialists. Pete Boll.
Hand Washing, Waxing, Buffing, Clay Barring, Upholstery Detailing,
outside detail, inside detail, full detail.

"If You're Not Happy, We're Not Finished."

give him a call.
Mark zoomie

 

[DMan]

Thanks, I'll check with them too.

I did touch base with Brian, but from preliminary email, he may be too high-end for me, I'm sure worth every penny, but I'm not looking to go crazy, just some good protection & attention that I don't have the time to do myself. But we'll see. I just can't think of dropping more than $150 to do the exteriors, keeping mind the one car I'm talking about is right off the showroom floor, and the other is a garaged 10K mi pampered viper. I don't know if that's unreasonable or not, but with Details, it was like $120 and the cars were perfection when they were done ... man I miss those guys, even had some no paint dent repairs from them that were perfect also.

 

[KNG SNKE]

He definitely is high end and will do it right. For 150 dollars you are not getting a detail, you are just creating more damage for your paint. Even off the showroom floor I guarantee that you have tons of micro scratches since even from the factory the cars are cleaned the wrong way. I have had the 150 dollar details on other vehicles that I have owned and I can tell you it has been brought to my attention that those details are complete garbage. My car took 3 days to fully detail (30 minute lunch break) and to have all of my scratches removed made the difference, even changed the color of my car. I personally did not want to spend as much as I did but once viewing the end result there was no comparison. I will tell you that you have a pretty expensive car, no reason to skimp on the paint and for 150 dollars you most likely will create more harm to the paint then good, this being said even though it will look better then when you brought it to them.

The other positive is once your paint has been fully corrected all you need to do is maintiain it by washing your car the right way and your good to go. It has been months now since my detail and it still looks awesome and I have put thousands of miles on the car since.

 

[DMan]

I hear ya King, I'm just not into it that much. I appreciate that level of detail very much, but I track the car etc., and would spend that $ on tires & brakes before I'd spend it on polishing paint. I know some would put that into a stereo or custom interior, we all have our priority areas. I just was looking for a decent job, if I can't outsource it for under $200 then I'll just keep doing it myself and get my son involved too, the cars are in great shape (for me), just trying to keep 'em that way & was hoping to off load one thing. Brian sounds like a finishing guru, good to have the contact if I ever need it, thanks.

 

[GTLaser]

Yes, you are exactly right. Details uses a lot of fillers to make the car look nice and shiny, two washes later all the swirls are back.

I have found about half a dozen referrals from people stating "their guy is the best" but when I see their cars finishes I am very appalled. To your average "Pep Boys" weekend detailer swirls are something they can live with and tell me I am too picky. Well I'm not and paint isn't suppose to have swirls marks if you do it right every time. The previous owner of my car never really drove it or protected it so I am on the hunt for someone that actually knows how to wash..... a simple two bucket method will pull them out of the crowd. If they don't know the two bucket method ( using one bucket to wash and one to rinse the dirt ) then I simply can't have them even come close to my car. A lot of people also use a filler which just covers the problems and not removes them.

KNG SNKE - I am going to give your guy a call... we seem to have the same taste... thanks

Dman - A $200 detail is a simple wash and wax uses stuff from your local Autozone or Pepboys, might as well save your cash. It is a lot of work to put into a good detail and like KNG SNKE stated it will last and is well worth the protection on a car, even a $200 car.

 

[KNG SNKE]

The key is to get your paint corrected then maintain it by properly washing and waxing it. Months later and I still have minimal scratches (that I did after the work) and I have not waxed once. The good thing about my guy is he takes the time to show you how to wash and wax it right. Definitely learned a lot from him. For 200 bucks i can almost promise with certainty that your detailer will be doing more harm then good.

GT, He is Mikes cousin. Mike has the black srt very from the HP challenge last year.

 

[DMan]

Yea, no debate here guys, I'm with ya. It's just a personal value thing, dropping $1,000+ per car on a detail isn't my thing, I can get another set of track tires for the cost of this detail. But it doesn't mean I don't appreciate it, believe me I do, I'd love to see your cars in person, I'm sure they're awesome, and Brian is no doubt a craftsman. I don't think anyone with a brain could debate the value of this level of detail, but it has to be important to you to spend the $, like anything else. And agreed on the $200 service (which is why I tested two on my other cars), I'm just continuing on my own and teaching my son, so I'll have help, I'm just interested in maintaining my showroom appearance on the 2 cars, which I've managed (as good as it is, I know).


GTLaser - if you're in to this level of detail, Brian sounds great, as he put it - you may find someone as good, but no one better. And based on the links and email info he sent, I believe him 100%, and he was very responsive in communicating and very willing to come to me, seems like a great guy.

 

[GTLaser]

I contacted Brian and he is willing to attend an event and host a workshop I have been planning with other exotic car groups. As soon as another organizer returns from vacation we will post up details of this event. It will be all about maintaining the cosmetic appearance of our cars. Stay tuned.

 

[Dom426h]

http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/647885-Viper-Detail?p=2997467#post2997467

 

[ViperJohn]

Wow, thanks for posting the link Dominic, I had not seen that post. May not be a bad idea to see if DJ Mayo would be willing to put a clinic together for us, or at minimum get some rough estimates on detailing costs.

 

[GTLaser]

Wow, thanks for posting the link Dominic, I had not seen that post. May not be a bad idea to see if DJ Mayo would be willing to put a clinic together for us, or at minimum get some rough estimates on detailing costs.

I sent him an email asking if he would be interested.... I'll keep you posted.

 

[ViperJohn]

Thanks Mark.

 

[GTLaser]

Thanks Mark.

Ok, almost got this 100% put together. We are working out a date so it doesn't conflict with any VCA events.... So far we plan to have a detailer, clear bra installer and custom painter/powder coater at this event/meet.....

 

[ViperJohn]

That's great to hear Mark. Keep me posted.